Weapon of self-defense



April 9, 1963 J. G. DUNCAN m 3,084,466

WEAPON OF' SELF-DEFENSE Filed Dec. 15, 1961 INVENTOR. Joseph G. Dun C anIDI BY 3,984,46b Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,466 WEAPON F SELF-DEFENSE Joseph Gray Duncan III, 31 Revere Road, Drexel Hill, P2. Filed Dec. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 159,192 2 Claims. (Cl. 42-1) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a weapon of self defense and more particularly to a miniaturized device having the appearance of a tubular lipstick holder or ball point pen which contains a lachrymal mixture which is ejected by turning a sleeve and sear to release a `firing pin which detonates a charge and expels the lachrymal mixture.

The lachrymal mixture may be mixed with a marking powder, sensitive to ultra-violet light. The lachryrnal substance may be red pepper or the like.

The weapon of the present invention is especially adapted for concealment and is perculiarly adapted for use by a woman as it fits readily in her handbag or purse.

Women have a natural aversion to firing a weapon containing a cartridge and the turning of a sleeve is a natural movement for a woman such as when using a lipstick container.

Further the weapon of the invention cannot be converted into a lethal weapon which might cause serious injury if tampered with by children.

When used by men, the device may be made to resemble a ball point pen.

Intelligence personnel will find the device of the invention very expedient when escaping from a tight situation, i.e., to escape capture and to identify the pursuers should the pursuers themselves be apprehended, by use of ultra-violet rays to expose the charge deposited on their persons.

Other uses will become obvious as the specification progresses.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a weapon to discharge a lachrymal and marking substance.

Another object is to provide a device that is easily concealed and ready for use at all times.

A further object is to provide a weapon that cannot be discharged accidentally.

lA final object is to provide a weapon that is simple in construction and expendable after use.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side view of the weapon of the invention having the appearance of a lipstick container;

FIGURE 2 is an axial section taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken in the plane indicated oy 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken in the plane indicated by 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken in the plane indicated by 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the invention and partly in section, showing the weapon of FIGURES 1-5 as enclosed in an outer case; and,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the invention made in the form of a ball point pen.

Reference is made to the drawings in which reference character t1 indicates generally the assembled weapon.

As shown in FIGURE l, the weapon is tubular in shape and comprises a body 2 and a barrel 3.

- an axial bore 6.

Flange 4 is grooved as at 7 (see FIGURE 3) along of its outer peripheral surface.

A firing pin guide 8, consisting of a disc of plastic or like material is secured by an adhesive in the forward end of body 2 as seen in FIGURE 2, and guide y8 is provided with an axial bore 9 having a keyway 10.

A firing member, indicated generally by 11, is housed in body 2 and consists of a cylindrical hammer 12 slidable in body 2 and biased in a forward direction by a coil spring 39.

Hammer 12 is provided with a rearwardly extending, integral shaft 13 which normally extends through bore 6, the end of shaft 13 having a transverse bore 14 to receive a safety pin .15.

Hammer y12 is further provided with a forwardly extending, integral firing pin d6 in axial alignment with shaft 13.

Firing pin 16 is provided with a key 17.

The ring pin 16 and key 17 extends through bore 9 of guide 8 and key 17 extends through keyway 10 in guide 3.

Barrel 3 is open at both of its ends, as seen in FIG- URE 2 and receives flange 4 of body 2. and is rotatably mounted with respect thereto.

The rearward end of barrel 3 is crimped as at 18 to prevent separation of barrel 3 from body `2.

Barrel 3 is indented to provide a conical nipple 19 which nipple lits into groove 7 when the device is assembled.

A sear 20, consisting of a plastic disc which is grooved longitudinally along its circumferential surface as at 21 and receives a rectangular crimp 22 in barrel 3 so that sear 20 will rotate with barrel 3.

Sear .Ztl is also provided with an axial bore, indicated by 23 and also a keyway which is indicated by 24.

A plastic disc-like holder 25 is fixed in barrel 3 by an adhesive or other method.

Holder 25 contains a percussion cap 26y which is disposed in a cavity 27 in its rearward portion and a flash port 28 provides a passage from the percussion cap 26 to a lachrymal substance 29 in barrel 3.

The forward end of barrel 3 is closed by a tip 30 which may be of plastic of red color to resemble a lipstick tip.

Tip 30 may be force fitted in barrel 3 so that it can be ejected upon ring of cap 26.

If desired, a container 31 may be placed over body 2 as in FIGURES 1 and 2 for further disguisement.

Additional decorative features may be applied to disguise the weapon such as a handle 32 on safety pin 15.

Means are provided to indicate the safe or cocked condition of the weapon and comprises a lip 33 which is integral with rearward edge of barrel 3 as seen in FIGURE l.

Proper indicia 34 is applied to cover 31, or body 2, when cover 31 is not used.

The weapon can also be disguised by placing it in a tubular container 4% (see FIGURE 6). In this form, tip 3i? must be pushed further into barrel 3 as shown in FIGURE 6. Appropriate retaining rings 35, 36 can be used to prevent dislodgement of tip 30.

In operation, safety pin 15 must be `first removed. The barrel 3 and body 2 is turned one-quarter of a revolution with respect to each other.

When used at short range, the device may be red so as to produce a cloud of lachrymal powder which may also mark the victim and provide for later identification.

The device of this invention may be made in the form of a ball point pen 37 (see FIGURE 7).

In this form a simulated ball point tip '38 will be applied to the outer end of tip 30.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A Weapon of self defense comprising, a tubular body having a rearward wall, said wall having an axial bore therein, a guide xed in the forward end of said body, said guide having an axial bore andy a keyway therein, a spring biased hammer slidable in said body, an axially disposed shaft integral with the rearward end of said hammer, said shaft extending through said bore in said wall in said body, an axially disposed firing pin integral with the forward end of said hammer, a longitudinal key integral with said firing pin, said firing pin and said key extending into said bore and said keyway respectively in said guide, a tubular barrel mounted for rotation around said body, a sear fixed for rotation with said barrel, an axial bore in said sear, there being a keyway in the last named axial bore, said sear normally restraining forward movement of said `firing member in said body, a holder fixed in said barrel forward of said sear, an axially disposed percussion cap in said holder, a lachrymal charge in said barrel, said barrel releasing :said firing member, whensaid barrel is rotated about said body and said axial bore and said keyway in said sear are aligned with said axial bore and said keyway in said guide, to detonate said percussion cap, and means whereby the rotation of said barrel is limited for rotation from a safe position to an armed position.

2. A device of the character set forth in claim 1 where in said means for limiting rotation of said barrel comprises, a -flange integral with the forward end of said body, a groove in the outer circumferential surface of said flange, said groove extending 90 therearound a rectangular crimp, in said barrel, said crimp normally riding in saidA groove whereby said barrel will be limited in its rotation to the length of said groove.

Tomaszewski Nov. 16, 19115 1,897,992 Ailes i-- Feb. 21, 1933 2,195,711 Hutchison Apr. 2, 1940 

1. A WEAPON OF SELF DEFENSE COMPRISING, A TUBULAR BODY HAVING A REARWARD WALL, SAID WALL HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN, A GUIDE FIXED IN THE FORWARD END OF SAID BODY, SAID GUIDE HAVING AN AXIAL BORE AND A KEYWAY THEREIN, A SPRING BIASED HAMMER SLIDABLE IN SAID BODY, AN AXIALLY DISPOSED SHAFT INTEGRAL WITH THE REARWARD END OF SAID HAMMER, SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BORE IN SAID WALL IN SAID BODY, AN AXIALLY DISPOSED FIRING PIN INTEGRAL WITH THE FORWARD END OF SAID HAMMER, A LONGITUDINAL KEY INTEGRAL WITH SAID FIRING PIN, SAID FIRING PIN AND SAID KEY EXTENDING INTO SAID BORE AND SAID KEYWAY RESPECTIVELY IN SAID GUIDE, A TUBULAR BARREL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AROUND SAID BODY, A SEAR FIXED FOR ROTATION WITH SAID BARREL, AN AXIAL BORE IN SAID SEAR, THERE BEING A KEYWAY IN THE LAST NAMED AXIAL BORE, SAID SEAR NORMALLY RESTRAINING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRING MEMBER IN SAID BODY, A HOLDER FIXED IN SAID BARREL FORWARD OF SAID SEAR, AN AXIALLY DISPOSED PERCUSSION CAP IN SAID HOLDER, A LACHRYMAL CHARGE IN SAID BARREL, SAID BARREL RELEASING SAID FIRING MEMBER, WHEN SAID BARREL IS ROTATED ABOUT SAID BODY AND SAID AXIAL BORE AND SAID KEYWAY IN SAID SEAR ARE ALIGNED WITH SAID AXIAL BORE AND SAID KEYWAY IN SAID GUIDE, TO DETONATE SAID PERCUSSION CAP, AND MEANS WHEREBY THE ROTATION OF SAID BARREL IS LIMITED FOR ROTATION FROM A SAFE POSITION TO AN ARMED POSITION. 